Tommy Kahnle got the phone call to return to Chicago much earlier than he anticipated.
Demoted after a rough spring, the White Sox reliever said he and his wife had just finished unpacking at Triple-A Charlotte when he learned he'd been recalled to the majors.
Kahnle rejoined the White Sox on Thursday after fellow reliever Jake Petricka went on the 10-day disabled list with a strained lat muscle. Though surprised by the news, Kahnle, who had a 5.87 ERA in seven spring games, hopes progress made in his most recent side session carries over onto the field.
"I wasn't expecting something to happen that quick," Kahnle said. "When duty calls, I guess.
"I could have done better (in spring). That’s the whole reason I got sent down, to figure it out.
"My fastball command wasn't really there this spring. It was hit or miss. I had a couple outings down in the minors that were suspect as well. I had that sim game the other day and it felt like I found it again. Hopefully I can run with it from there."
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Despite 20 walks in 27 1/3 innings with the White Sox last season, Kahnle finished with a 2.63 ERA. But he found something later in the season, walking only six of the final 60 batters he faced after handing out 14 free passes to the first 59. Over that 16-inning stretch, Kahnle had 0.56 ERA.
"When you've got stuff like that you kind of want them to try to swing the bat," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "You want the hitter to beat them, not Tommy or any pitcher to put themselves in their own predicament with walks or hitters' counts. He's going to get another crack at it. His arm doesn't belong in the minor leagues. The only thing between him and staying here forever is just throwing his fastball, his breaking ball, his changeup over the plate."
The White Sox didn’t say how long Petricka could be out. Cooper said he didn't expect a "three-month thing," but otherwise the team offered no details.
Petricka — who only appeared in nine games last season — pitched a scoreless inning in Wednesday's season opener. Cooper said Petricka felt some tightness at the start of his second inning of work.
"Sometimes it's funny how things work," Cooper said. "One door closes and Tommy Kahnle is up and he has another opportunity to show what he can do."